Why a career in computer programming sucks

[cknat]

So what advantage does a 60-year-old .NET programmer have over a 27-year-old .NET programmer when they both have, at most, 5 years of experience doing .NET programming? Absolutely none. I’d make the case that it’s better to hire the 27-year-old because he is still at the stage of his career where he enjoys the stuff and is therefore more motivated to learn and work harder, while the 60-year-old is surely bitter about the fact that he’s getting paid less than the younger programmers. No one wants a bitter employee.

[Bitsaurus]

Don't know, but my dad who is recently retired was making $160/hr do contractor work for Boeing as a program manager.  I doubt a 27 yo would make that rate as a contractor since they wouldn't have the experience under their belt.

A new startup that needs 16 hour days may not hire the 60 year old though.

[Lethn]

All this says to me is you just shouldn't go for a job where you know you're going to be miserable, something I've advocated since I left school, yeah, if you can bear it, part time job or something, but for a career? There's no way you should force yourself to do something you hate just to earn money, you'll never be good at something you hate.